The Life of Sir John Oldcastle [21]
you purposed to have met?
MURLEY.
True, I did say so, but in what respect?
Because I heard it was reported so.
KING.
Was there no other argument but that?
ACTON.
To clear my conscience ere I die, my lord,
I must confess, we have no other ground
But only Rumor, to accuse this lord,
Which now I see was merely fabulous.
KING.
The more pernitious you to taint him then,
Whom you knew not was faulty, yea or no.
COBHAM.
Let this, my Lord, which I present your grace,
Speak for my loyalty: read these articles,
And then give sentence of my life or death.
KING.
Earl Cambridge, Scroop, and Gray corrupted
With bribes from Charles of France, either to win
My Crown from me, or secretly contrive
My death by treason? Is this possible?
COBHAM.
There is the platform, and their hands, my lord,
Each severally subscribed to the same.
KING.
Oh never heard of, base ingratitude!
Even those I hug within my bosom most
Are readiest evermore to sting my heart.
Pardon me, Cobham, I have done thee wrong;
Hereafter I will live to make amends.
Is, then, their time of meeting no near hand?
We'll meet with them, but little for their ease,
If God permit. Go, take these rebels hence;
Let them have martial law: but as for thee,
Friend to thy king and country, still be free.
[Exeunt.]
MURLEY.
Be it more or less, what a world is this?
Would I had continued still of the order of knaves,
And never sought knighthood, since it costs so dear.
Sir Roger, I may thank you for all.
ACTON.
Now tis too late to have it remedied,
I prithee, Murley, do not urge me with it.
HUNTINGTON.
Will you away, and make no more to do?
MURLEY.
Fie, paltry, paltry! to and fro, as occasion serves;
If you be so hasty, take my place.
HUNTINGTON.
No, good sir knight, you shall begin in your hand.
MURLEY.
I could be glad to give my betters place.
[Exeunt.]
ACT IV. SCENE III. Kent. Court before lord
Cobham's house.
[Enter Bishop, lord Warden, Cromer the Shrieve,
Lady Cob, and attendants.]
BISHOP.
I tell ye, Lady, it's not possible
But you should know where he conveys himself,
And you have hid him in some secret place.
LADY COBHAM.
My Lord, believe me, as I have a soul,
I know not where my lord my husband is.
BISHOP.
Go to, go to, ye are an heretic,
And will be forced by torture to confess,
If fair means will not serve to make ye tell.
LADY COBHAM.
My husband is a noble gentleman,
And need not hide himself for any fact
That ere I heard of; therefore wrong him not.
BISHOP.
Your husband is a dangerous schismatic,
Traitor to God, the King, and common wealth:
And therefore, master Croamer, shrieve of Kent,
I charge you take her to your custody,
And seize the goods of Sir John Old-castle
To the King's use. Let her go in no more,
To fetch so much as her apparel out.
There is your warrant from his majesty.
LORD WARDEN.
Good my Lord Bishop, pacify your wrath
Against the Lady.
BISHOP.
Then let her confess
Where Old-castle her husband is concealed.
LORD WARDEN.
I dare engage mine honor and my life,
Poor gentlewoman, she is ignorant
And innocent of all his practises,
If any evil by him be practised.
BISHOP.
If, my Lord Warden? nay, then I charge you,
That all the cinque Ports, whereof you are chief,
Be laid forthwith, that he escape us not.
Shew him his highness' warrant, Master Shrieve.
LORD WARDEN.
I am sorry for the noble gentleman--
[Enter Old-castle and Harpoole.]
BISHOP.
Peace, he comes here; now do your office.
COBHAM.
Harpoole, what business have we here in hand?
What makes the Bishop and the Sheriff here?
I fear my coming home is dangerous,
I would I had not made such haste to Cobham.
HARPOOLE.
Be of good cheer, my Lord: if they be foes, we'll
scramble shrewdly with them: if they be friends,
they are welcome. One of them (my Lord Warden)
is your friend; but me thinks my lady weeps; I like
not that.
CROAMER.
Sir John Old-castle, Lord Cobham, in the King's
majesty's name, I arrest ye of high treason.
MURLEY.
True, I did say so, but in what respect?
Because I heard it was reported so.
KING.
Was there no other argument but that?
ACTON.
To clear my conscience ere I die, my lord,
I must confess, we have no other ground
But only Rumor, to accuse this lord,
Which now I see was merely fabulous.
KING.
The more pernitious you to taint him then,
Whom you knew not was faulty, yea or no.
COBHAM.
Let this, my Lord, which I present your grace,
Speak for my loyalty: read these articles,
And then give sentence of my life or death.
KING.
Earl Cambridge, Scroop, and Gray corrupted
With bribes from Charles of France, either to win
My Crown from me, or secretly contrive
My death by treason? Is this possible?
COBHAM.
There is the platform, and their hands, my lord,
Each severally subscribed to the same.
KING.
Oh never heard of, base ingratitude!
Even those I hug within my bosom most
Are readiest evermore to sting my heart.
Pardon me, Cobham, I have done thee wrong;
Hereafter I will live to make amends.
Is, then, their time of meeting no near hand?
We'll meet with them, but little for their ease,
If God permit. Go, take these rebels hence;
Let them have martial law: but as for thee,
Friend to thy king and country, still be free.
[Exeunt.]
MURLEY.
Be it more or less, what a world is this?
Would I had continued still of the order of knaves,
And never sought knighthood, since it costs so dear.
Sir Roger, I may thank you for all.
ACTON.
Now tis too late to have it remedied,
I prithee, Murley, do not urge me with it.
HUNTINGTON.
Will you away, and make no more to do?
MURLEY.
Fie, paltry, paltry! to and fro, as occasion serves;
If you be so hasty, take my place.
HUNTINGTON.
No, good sir knight, you shall begin in your hand.
MURLEY.
I could be glad to give my betters place.
[Exeunt.]
ACT IV. SCENE III. Kent. Court before lord
Cobham's house.
[Enter Bishop, lord Warden, Cromer the Shrieve,
Lady Cob, and attendants.]
BISHOP.
I tell ye, Lady, it's not possible
But you should know where he conveys himself,
And you have hid him in some secret place.
LADY COBHAM.
My Lord, believe me, as I have a soul,
I know not where my lord my husband is.
BISHOP.
Go to, go to, ye are an heretic,
And will be forced by torture to confess,
If fair means will not serve to make ye tell.
LADY COBHAM.
My husband is a noble gentleman,
And need not hide himself for any fact
That ere I heard of; therefore wrong him not.
BISHOP.
Your husband is a dangerous schismatic,
Traitor to God, the King, and common wealth:
And therefore, master Croamer, shrieve of Kent,
I charge you take her to your custody,
And seize the goods of Sir John Old-castle
To the King's use. Let her go in no more,
To fetch so much as her apparel out.
There is your warrant from his majesty.
LORD WARDEN.
Good my Lord Bishop, pacify your wrath
Against the Lady.
BISHOP.
Then let her confess
Where Old-castle her husband is concealed.
LORD WARDEN.
I dare engage mine honor and my life,
Poor gentlewoman, she is ignorant
And innocent of all his practises,
If any evil by him be practised.
BISHOP.
If, my Lord Warden? nay, then I charge you,
That all the cinque Ports, whereof you are chief,
Be laid forthwith, that he escape us not.
Shew him his highness' warrant, Master Shrieve.
LORD WARDEN.
I am sorry for the noble gentleman--
[Enter Old-castle and Harpoole.]
BISHOP.
Peace, he comes here; now do your office.
COBHAM.
Harpoole, what business have we here in hand?
What makes the Bishop and the Sheriff here?
I fear my coming home is dangerous,
I would I had not made such haste to Cobham.
HARPOOLE.
Be of good cheer, my Lord: if they be foes, we'll
scramble shrewdly with them: if they be friends,
they are welcome. One of them (my Lord Warden)
is your friend; but me thinks my lady weeps; I like
not that.
CROAMER.
Sir John Old-castle, Lord Cobham, in the King's
majesty's name, I arrest ye of high treason.